[Guest]

It just had to go!

I did it in a way that used as many of the factory parts as possible, including the stock license plate light. Used some of the posts and pics here as inspiration!

Total cost was $1.50. Took longer than I thought, though! I'm really happy with the results, though.

I've only had the bike since Monday afternoon, and I've already given it a good cleaning, changed the oil and filter, cleaned the oil strainer, and checked the condition of the belt and belt tension. All looks good!

Of course, I've ridden it to work each day, too!

Some gratuitous pics.

 

[Guest]

Looks great.

What cost $1.50?

 

[scrappy]

Very nice job, Brian. Yeah, WHAT cost $1.50!... Inquiring minds want to know.

scooby ;D

 

[Guest]

Two little straight metal strips from Ace Hardware, which I used to mount the modified tail piece to the frame, came to around a buck and a half. I was able to use existing factory holes, bolts and nuts to hold it together, which was nice.

This is a mod that is actually fairly easily reversed. I saved the sawed off frame portion, and that could very easily and inexpensively welded back on. I bought a used stock tail section, just in case. All of the wiring remains untouched.

Not that I would ever do that! ;D

 

[MagnusVer]

well done... umm, is that your garage? looks a little too clean...

 

[Guest]

Yeah, I am a *bit* of a clean freak. It's a sickness, really.

Here's a pic of the BOTTOM of the car under the picture. This took me 5 weeks of very ugly, on-my-back work.

I've taken the engines out of many of my cars just to clean them up. I'm weird that way!

 

[MagnusVer]

did you tile the floor of your garage? man, that's sick!!

i'd post a few pics of my garage but i'm afraid you might drive over and clean it....

so how do you like the sound eminating from behind your clutch cover? just for fun, remove the cover and have a listen...

 

[krista_k]

one thing to look out for is that the license plate doesn't hit the tire at full compression. my pongo came with an arrangement that looked like that and a messed up license plate. oh, and this also mashed the inner fender into the tire, which broke it. :

great lookin job, though!

chris

 

[03monster800]

hmmm.... that tail chop looks familiar.

 

[Guest]

Just a suggestion SoCal.

 

[azmonster]

Yep, might want to check the plate angle. There's a reason we all have plates facing the sky

It'll hit your tire when the rear compresses. At least mine did.
dion

 

[03monster800]

Yep, just like the other 100 I have seen in the last three years. What's your point monster 800?


Brian, looks clean. Good job.

Here's my POINT........

Hopefully it was my chop that inspired the modded stock peices... and if not... I guess we think alike. Anyways, good job man.

 

[MagnusVer]

i guess we'll have to call that the california chop.

now, are you sure you want to keep those stock sigs?

 

[Guest]

Yep, '03, your job definately was the inspiration for mine! I loved the way yours looked, and wouldn't have thought of it myself.

I didn't have any problems on my gentle test ride, but I bounced up and down on the seat and I see what you mean about the plate angle. It looks like it would hit if I hit a big enough bump fast enough.

So I went ahead and removed the license plate light, shortened the plastic plate holder, and moved the plate all the way up to the bottom of the taillight. Looks like plenty of clearance now. Looks pretty much identical to '03's now.

I was up until 1 a.m. tinkering around with the bike and and redoing the plate. Pulled a plug to check out the color, looked good. Ended up flushing and bleeding the clutch fluid, too. Will do the same for the brake fluid as my "late night" project tonight!

Fun stuff!

 

[Guest]

P.S. - as far as the turn signals, yeah, I probably need to replace them.

My fronts are some kind of fake carbon fiber aftermarket ones with smoked lenses. When I first saw the pics of my bike, I didn't think I'd like them (I thought I'd put the stock one back on the front), but as it turns out, I like them because the dark color makes them almost unnoticeable.

Does anyone know what brand these are and where I can find them? The dark color would make them very well camoflaged on the back of my bike (but they are surprisingly bright when they light up).

 

[krista_k]

look here:
http://www.lockhartphillipsusa.com/pages/product-sub3.asp?id=136

i kinda like the ugly stock ones. less stuff for cops to hassle you over.

unless you get pulled over in your cage for going 85 in a 65. :